A cellular telecommunications terminal having a full-duplex mode of operation and a half-duplex mode of operation, including a first cellular transmitter and a first cellular receiver operable, when the terminal is in the full-duplex mode, to transmit and receive at the same time and operable, when the terminal is in the half-duplex mode, to transmit and receive at different times and not at the same time; and a switching control for changing the mode of operation of the terminal while operating in the full-duplex mode from the full-duplex mode to the half-duplex mode.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An apparatus, comprising: a first cellular transmitter configured to operate with at least one carrier frequency, and a first cellular receiver, wherein the first cellular transmitter and the first cellular receiver are configured, when the apparatus is in a full-duplex mode, to transmit and receive at the same time and configured, when the apparatus is in a half-duplex mode, to transmit and receive at different times and not at the same time; a signalling control configured to control the first cellular transmitter to transmit a capability information message to a cellular telecommunications network using a radio frequency signal, the capability information message comprising information identifying to the cellular telecommunications network whether full-duplex mode operation or half-duplex mode operation of the apparatus is available for the at least one carrier frequency; and a switching control configured to change the mode of operation of the apparatus, from operating in the full-duplex mode to operating in the half-duplex mode or from operating in the half-duplex mode to operating in the full-duplex mode in response to at least one trigger condition, wherein the at least one trigger condition comprises receiving a signal from the cellular telecommunications network; and wherein the switching control is responsive to interference detected at the first cellular receiver, and a change in operational mode to half-duplex mode occurs when the detected interference exceeds a threshold.
A cellular communication device (e.g., a phone) can switch between full-duplex mode (transmitting and receiving simultaneously) and half-duplex mode (transmitting and receiving at different times). The device has a transmitter and receiver that use the same carrier frequency. It sends a message to the cellular network indicating whether it supports full-duplex or half-duplex on that frequency. The device switches modes (full to half, or half to full) based on a signal from the network or when the receiver detects interference above a set threshold. This allows the device to avoid problems caused by strong interference during full-duplex operation by switching to half-duplex when necessary.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first cellular transmitter uses a first antenna and first cellular receiver uses the same first antenna.
The cellular communication device described above uses the *same* antenna for both transmitting and receiving using a single connection to the antenna.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the switching control configured to be responsive to a power output of the first cellular transmitter, and configured to change the operational mode of the apparatus, from the full-duplex mode to the half-duplex mode, when the power output exceeds a power threshold.
The cellular communication device described with duplex mode switching is also responsive to transmitter power output. The device switches from full-duplex to half-duplex when the transmitter's power output exceeds a specified threshold, indicating that full-duplex operation might cause issues at higher power levels.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising a duplexer joining the first cellular transmitter and first cellular receiver to the first antenna element, wherein isolation is provided by the duplexer between the first cellular transmitter and first cellular receiver, wherein the isolation is adequate while the power output of the first transmitter does not exceed the power threshold, and the isolation is inadequate when the power output of the first cellular transmitter exceeds the power threshold.
The cellular communication device described with duplex mode switching uses a duplexer component to connect the transmitter and receiver to the same antenna. The duplexer isolates the transmitter and receiver, but this isolation is only sufficient when the transmitter's power is below a certain threshold. When the power goes above that threshold, the isolation becomes inadequate, and the device switches to half-duplex mode to avoid interference.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: a second cellular transmitter, suitable for use in a mobile cellular telecommunications terminal, and a second cellular receiver, suitable for use in a mobile telecommunications terminal.
The cellular communication device described with duplex mode switching also includes a second transmitter and a second receiver, both suitable for mobile cellular communication use. This implies the device has multiple transmitters and receivers that can be used in either full-duplex or half-duplex configurations.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the switching control is configured to be responsive to interference detected using the second cellular receiver, and configured to change the operational mode of the apparatus, from the full-duplex mode to the half-duplex mode, when the detected interference exceeds a threshold.
The cellular communication device with multiple transmitters/receivers includes interference detection using the second receiver. The device switches from full-duplex to half-duplex when the second receiver detects interference exceeding a threshold, in addition to the original receiver being able to trigger the switch.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the switching control is configured to be responsive to a power output of the second cellular transmitter, and configured to change the operational mode of the apparatus, from the full-duplex mode to the half-duplex mode, when the power output of the second cellular transmitter exceeds a threshold.
The cellular communication device with multiple transmitters/receivers also switches from full-duplex to half-duplex when the power output of the second transmitter exceeds a threshold.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the half-duplex mode is one of: a) transmission from a single antenna without simultaneous reception at the single antenna; b) simultaneous transmissions from a first antenna and a second antenna without simultaneous reception at the first or second antenna; and c) simultaneous reception at a first antenna and a second antenna without simultaneous transmission from the first or second antenna.
The cellular communication device with multiple transmitters/receivers can operate in different half-duplex modes: a) transmitting from one antenna without receiving on that antenna; b) transmitting from two antennas simultaneously without any simultaneous reception; or c) receiving on two antennas simultaneously without any simultaneous transmission.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the full duplex mode is one of: a) transmission from a single antenna with simultaneous reception at the single antenna; b) simultaneous transmissions from a first antenna and a second antenna with simultaneous reception at the first or second antenna; c) simultaneous receptions at a first antenna and a second antenna with simultaneous transmission from the first or second antenna; and d) simultaneous receptions at a first antenna and a second antenna with simultaneous transmissions from the first and second antennas.
The cellular communication device with multiple transmitters/receivers can operate in different full-duplex modes: a) transmitting and receiving on the same antenna simultaneously; b) transmitting from two antennas while simultaneously receiving on at least one of the antennas; c) receiving on two antennas while simultaneously transmitting from at least one of the antennas; and d) simultaneously transmitting and receiving on both antennas.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , comprising a switching element joining the second cellular transmitter and second cellular receiver to a second antenna element, and wherein the full-duplex mode is one of: a) transmission from the first antenna element with simultaneous reception at the first antenna element; b) simultaneous transmissions from the first antenna element and the second antenna element with simultaneous reception at the first antenna element but hot at the second antenna element; and c) simultaneous reception at the first antenna element and the second antenna element with simultaneous transmission from the first antenna element but not from the second antenna element.
The cellular communication device with multiple transmitters/receivers includes a switching element to connect the second transmitter and receiver to the second antenna. In full-duplex mode, the device can: a) transmit and receive on the first antenna; b) transmit on both antennas and receive only on the first antenna; or c) receive on both antennas and transmit only on the first antenna.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising the signalling control configured to control the sending of a capability message indicating a reduced-duplex-capability of the apparatus.
The cellular communication device with multiple transmitters/receivers transmits a "reduced-duplex-capability" message to the network, informing the network that the device is capable of reducing its duplex capabilities.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the capability message indicates the duplex capability of multiple antennas.
The capability message sent by the cellular communication device to the network indicates the duplex capability of multiple antennas, not just a single antenna.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first cellular transmitter and the first cellular receiver are configured to use a first communication protocol while the apparatus is in the full-duplex mode, and configured to continue to use the first communication protocol after the switching control has changed the apparatus from being in the full-duplex mode to being the half-duplex mode.
The cellular communication device uses the same communication protocol whether it's in full-duplex or half-duplex mode. The switch between modes does not require a change in the underlying communication protocol.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one trigger condition is one of a self-interference detection level at the apparatus, a transmit power level of the first cellular transmitter, a transition in antenna configuration or a change of connection state of the apparatus to another apparatus.
The cellular communication device switches between full and half-duplex modes based on several possible triggers: a) the amount of self-interference detected; b) the transmitter's power level; c) a change in antenna configuration; or d) a change in the device's connection state to another device.
15. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of cellular transmitters and receivers, where each cellular transmitter is configured to operate with at least one carrier frequency; a controller configured to control at least one of the cellular transmitters to transmit a capability message to a cellular telecommunications network using a radio frequency signal, the capability message comprising information indicating to a cellular telecommunications network whether full-duplex mode operation or half-duplex mode operation of the apparatus is available for at least one carrier frequency; and a switching control configured to change the mode of operation of the apparatus, from operating in the full-duplex mode to operating in the half-duplex mode or from operating in the half-duplex mode to operating in the full-duplex mode in response to at least one trigger condition; wherein the switching control is responsive to interference detected by at least one of the cellular receivers, and a change in operational mode to half-duplex mode occurs when the detected interference exceeds a threshold.
An apparatus has multiple transmitters and receivers. A controller transmits a message to the network, indicating full or half-duplex capability for a carrier frequency. A switching control changes between full and half-duplex based on a trigger. If any receiver detects interference above a threshold, the apparatus switches to half-duplex.
16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein a duplex capability of an antenna may change and wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of the transmitters to transmit an updated capability message in response to such a change.
The apparatus described above has an antenna whose duplex capability (full or half) can change. The controller then transmits an updated capability message to the network reflecting this change in antenna capability.
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the duplex capability of an antenna changes as a result of high self-interference measurements.
The change in duplex capability for an antenna, as described above, is triggered by high self-interference measurements detected by the device.
18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the duplex capability of an antenna changes as a result of high transmission power measurements.
The change in duplex capability for an antenna, as described above, is triggered by high transmission power measurements.
19. An apparatus, comprising: a controller configured to: use a capability message received as a radio frequency signal from a mobile cellular telecommunications terminal, wherein the capability message indicates whether full-duplex mode operation or half-duplex mode operation of the mobile cellular telecommunications terminal is available for at least one carrier frequency that can be transmitted by the mobile cellular telecommunications terminal; allocate resources in the cellular telecommunications network according to the received capability message; and change the mode of operation of the apparatus, from operating in the full-duplex mode to operating in the half-duplex mode or from operating in the half-duplex mode to operating in the full-duplex mode in response to at least one trigger condition; wherein the controller is responsive to interference detected by the mobile cellular telecommunications terminal, and a change in operational mode to half-duplex mode occurs when the detected interference exceeds a threshold.
A cellular network base station receives a capability message from a mobile device indicating its full or half-duplex support on certain frequencies. The base station allocates network resources based on this message. The base station can trigger a change between full and half-duplex modes if the mobile device reports interference exceeding a threshold.
20. An apparatus comprising: at least one cellular transmitter and at least one cellular receiver, said at least one cellular transmitter configured to operate with at least one carrier frequency; and a controller configured to transmit a capability message to a cellular telecommunications network using a radio frequency signal, the capability message comprising at least one information element contained within the capability message that indicates to the cellular telecommunications network whether one of full-duplex mode operation or half-duplex mode operation of the apparatus is available for at least one carrier frequency; the controller also configured to change the mode of operation of the apparatus from operating in the full-duplex mode to operating in the half-duplex mode or from operating in the half-duplex mode to operating in the full-duplex mode in response to at least one trigger condition; wherein the controller is responsive to interference detected by the at least one cellular receiver, and a change in operational mode to half-duplex mode occurs when the detected interference exceeds a threshold.
An apparatus includes at least one transmitter and receiver. A controller transmits a capability message to the network, with an information element indicating full or half-duplex capability for a given carrier frequency. The controller switches the apparatus between full and half-duplex modes based on a trigger, specifically switching to half-duplex when the receiver detects interference above a threshold.
21. An apparatus, comprising: a controller configured to use a capability message received as a radio frequency signal from a mobile cellular telecommunications terminal, the capability message comprising at least one information element that indicates whether one of full-duplex mode operation or half-duplex mode operation of the mobile cellular telecommunications terminal is available for at least one carrier frequency that can be transmitted by-the mobile cellular telecommunications terminal; and allocate resources in the network according to the received capability message; wherein the controller is configured to change the mode of operation of the apparatus, from operating in the full-duplex mode to operating in the half-duplex mode or from operating in the half-duplex mode to operating in the full-duplex mode in response to at least one trigger condition; wherein the controller is responsive to interference detected by the mobile cellular telecommunications terminal, and a change in operational mode to half-duplex mode occurs when the detected interference exceeds a threshold.
A network component receives a capability message from a mobile device, with an information element indicating its full or half-duplex support. The network allocates resources accordingly. The network changes the mobile device's mode between full and half-duplex based on a trigger, specifically when the device reports interference above a threshold.
22. A method, comprising: controlling an apparatus comprising a plurality of cellular transmitters and receivers, where each cellular transmitter is configured to operate with at least one carrier frequency and where said apparatus is configurable to operate in one of at least a single input, single output (SISO) mode or a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) mode; transmitting a capability message to a cellular telecommunications network, the capability message comprising at least one information element that indicates whether one of full-duplex mode operation or half-duplex mode operation is available for at least one carrier frequency; and responsive to interference detected by at least one receiver of the plurality of cellular transmitters and receivers, a change in operational mode to half-duplex mode occurs when the detected interference exceeds a threshold.
A method controls an apparatus with multiple transmitters and receivers, configurable for SISO or MIMO modes. It involves transmitting a capability message to a cellular network, indicating full or half-duplex availability for a carrier frequency. If any receiver detects interference above a threshold, the method changes the apparatus to half-duplex mode.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 7, 2005
June 11, 2013
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.